Me ...simply me

Thinking back on growing up ~ in the 2nd grade Mrs. Beckett asked us all what we wanted to be when we grew up. I thought and I thought... Other kids in the class were saying a doctor, a fireman, a policeman.. All I could think of was a wife and a mommy! What would make me the happiest? What could satisfy my needs and wants... Yup.. it was a mommy .. Of course I was 12 when I stopped taking my doll (Charlie from the age of 2) to church with me. I loved babies and I started working in the nursery at church during Sunday School and during church at the age of 8. Also at the age of 8 I had my first babysitting job watching 1 year old twins! OK yes they lived next door and mom was home if they happened to wake up... and YES I went in and watched them sleep till they Woke up.. who wants to baby sit babies that were asleep!??? =D I just loved Being MOM! As I grew up and into Jr. High school many were saying what they were going to be when they graduated.. What they were going to take in college... Me..I threw around being a vet... because I loved animals, I researched being a teacher because I loved kids, and being a nurse so I can help deliver babies. BUT when it came right down to it.... nothing ever took the place of being a wife and a mother! I just wanted to be married with a family. I dreamed of many babies and a loving husband that went to work everyday while I stayed home with all the kids ~ 8 was my magic number !!! Yup I wanted 8 babies! 8 children to love and run after and chase and play with and take to school and mold into beautiful adults.... My first born to my last would be my pride and joy. Loving God First.... Loving my husband second... and loving the little ones .. loving being a wife and a mother to the fullest! ~ Of course no problems trials or testings was ever in my dreams and certainly not divorce!!! (When Elvis got a divorce I put all my records outside on the roof to melt! and warp.. I couldn't stand not even the word or the act of divorce!) Life sure has a way of throwing us a curve! But never .. never did I change what I wanted to be "when I grow up". 2 divorces later and 2 children later made me realize ~ No matter what, I have my 2 beautiful, perfect children (Yes beautiful and Perfect! ) to give my whole life to! My children were my world and were going to stay that way... and did!!! The wife part was to hard to trust anyone totally and freely. I had put my all into being a mom and the rest into being a wife for the 3rd marriage. .. 22 years into my marriage to Karl and looking back I see that as the kids got older and realizing I wasn't going to be 'mom' in the sense of the word ~ being the one the kids depend on ~ totally trust and need. I started reflecting on the wife part... I knew then things were different than they had been much earlier in the marriage..... I wonder when I started Trusting Karl enough to be the wife I should be ~ I figured out .. early on I never gave him my total ' being a wife' part. Fear triggered this emotion but as months and years went by learned to trust and depend on him ... I love him so!!! He is my total companion, my provider, my friend, my confidant, my husband. I now know I never want to live without him and know he is just he best thing that ever happened to me. ! I am so Blessed!!! Being born in the family I was born in and having my children is the Blessing God Blessed me with. The life I dreamed of has come true but with a total Added Blessing that I prayed for also .... GRANDCHILDREN .. the most amazing Blessing ever! One I had no choice in.. But God Gave to me ... ok, OK .. to their parents .. but they are a gift to me! To their parents - gift by choice! =D My 4 grandchildren I can continue to love, hold, hug, play with , pray for, share! =) ... and most of all I love sharing them with their PA! I am so Blessed!!!


me at 6 months

me (and Erica ) 7 months pregnant Me with the baby doll age 10

GRANDCHILD UPDATE 

I just went back and read this... It was posted way before my fifth Grandbaby...    Josephine Ellen ..   What a Joy she is ...  added to Jordan Riley, Isaac Neil,  Julianne Grace,  Valerie Faw...  I do believe we are now complete unless God has a different story!     Love all around!!! 1

I see a resemblance here .

Moving Memories

As we were packing and going through Every box and rubbermaid tub in the house to get ready to move again, going through the 'box to save - Memories are in here' boxes ... my heart laughed and cried at the same time... laughing at the love I felt remembering but crying for the memories we wish we had back.. Memories from Great grand parents.. Grandparents but also from when my babies were small.. little ones with I LOVE YOU mommy forever and ever cards and pictures... great little pictures with the words written all over them .. I love you mom! The grocery lists and the 'reimbursement checks' in Mom-moms handwriting. The many score sheets from YAHTZEE .. or Canasta... Skipbo ... those I will cherish many many years... The time spent with Mama and Mom-mom playing these games was times they spent with me... we talked many a subjects playing these games... Just being together .. I can almost hear her laughing or calling me a stink pot when I was getting the upper hand.
I remember many times with Lisa my cousin (close as a sister) and I would spend the night with Mama we would play games into the night. Mama would cheat and Lisa and I would snicker across the table... Mama had no idea we were smart enough to know that when we turned our heads she would flip the yahtzee dice over to what she needed... We would play with laughter and fun until we couldn't play any more... Mama would usher us up to the bedroom upstairs after a quick question if we wanted to sleep with her.. Lisa and I were always quick to say no thank you .. I was a bed wetter and she would never reprimand me for the 'accidents' .. she would say something like.. ' I didn't know it rained last night.. that roof must be leaking again! The next morning after getting the sheets off the bed and the breakfast dishes done we would go to work on Mama showing us how to mop the floors and dust the house .. because thats what we loved doing .. being with Mama.. no matter what she needed us to do for her.. There were times Mama would be in the hospital and Lisa and I would get to 'sit' with her.. we would keep her laughing and she would keep us running... She would need things and we'd go get them.. now thinking back on it I think she might have asked us to go get things so she'd have a few minutes to rest.. but all in all ... her laughter and her having us around would always keep her getting well enough to go home... She had an enlarged heart and the doctors never knew when she would go.. as I got older I worried that I would be there when she 'went' so I started staying away. I look back now and grieve for the time I was too fearful to stay with her when I had a wonderful chance to be with my Mama! I loved her so!!! Mom-mom moved into a trailer behind her house when she passed away. I would go to Mom-mom's and get her paper in the morning on my way to work and take it to her front door so she didn't have to go out to the driveway (which was the alley) to get it. In the afternoons Hillary and Jeremy and I would go to her house and we'd clean or mow or play games with her... She was a blessing for us. .. and we were a blessing for her! Jeremy and Hillary grew up knowing and loving Mom-mom like Lisa and I loved Mama! Family is so precious!!! I wish I could put down every memory so no one forgets the love that Mama and Mom-mom had. Paw-paw and Papa were just as loving .. they too were so wonderful to be around! Papa passed away when I was 5 so I don't have a LOT of memories of him... The only memories I have specifically are us running to the car after him when he was pulling in the driveway because no matter how many kids came running he had a small snack bag of cheese puffs or potato chips... He'd hand them out with lots of love and hugs!!! I remember his 'wake' ... his casket in the living room of Mama's house. People were milling around the house talking and being there.. it seemed that nothing was amiss... but there was something terribly wrong... terribly! It just wasn't natural. It didn't dawn on me until later .. that his body was there but he wasn't . I knew they said he had died but only after coming back and he wasn't there .. forever .... then I realized what death really was.
Ok.. sorry to get on that subject.. just my mind pouring over the memories of days gone by.!
Moving and seeing pass me down mementos from past generations just stirs up all those loves and hugs from the past! Some precious and some not so nice. Death.. its something we start doing the minute we are born.. its the only thing that is 100 % guaranteed ... One thing is for sure and certain... Facing Death with dread or joy- fear or faith- the choice is ours... Whoever Believes in Him Shall not perish - Christ makes the offer - We must make a choice !

OK Back to Moving .. making memories NOW!

Making memories are also as important as remembering memories! It was fun letting the Isaac and Valerie help pack up their room to move... it was important that they get involved because I wasn't as doting as a grandparent with getting ready to move as they are used to... but letting them help was a good way to get them involved in the process .... Jordan and Julianne were in on the move by long distance.. reminding them that next time they come up we will live at a new house.... and they did!

What a GREAT family memory day we had...
What usually is a stressful day ended up being the most fabulous day ever!!! Enjoying the family together.. Mom and dad, Hillary and David, Jeremy and Jayme, Jordan, Isaac, Julianne and Valerie were more memory fun than we could ever ask for!! What a GREAT day!!! Jayme helped with the kitchen getting organized, Hillary couldn't do much because of her back but helped earlier in the week making meals as we were getting the house ready... Dad, David and Jeremy were a Godsend because we couldn't have done it without them!!! Mark Daye a friend of ours came and helped move furniture! Our day of moving was just full of wonderful memories! The kids loved it... getting caught up in all the 'stuff' coming in and the toys were all over everything ... playing with the 'cars' in the driveway were the most fun for them.. and Mom and I took them to the playground at the school! And we enjoyed just watching and playing and let the stress fly to another day! The day ended with joy in our hearts... (well except Julianne.. she wanted to ride a toy truck back to Pickerington.. not just take it with her but RIDE it to Pickerington.. and she wasn't a happy camper when she found out she couldn't ) I love her will and her spirit! One day it will be totally useful for what God has for her! Everything she does .. she does it BIG! It was a Good day!! Thank you Jesus Christ for my Family ! My new home! And above ALL ~YOU ! I thank ALL who joined us and helped that day.. especially Jayme for setting up my kitchen!!! I thank you openly every time I put my dishes away and go to and find an item I need!!!

Seeing with God's eyes

Romans 12:11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. 14 Ask God to bless those who persecute you - yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise. 17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.



I ask God to let me see with His eyes... I want to be more like Him!!! I want to know the compassion He has... His love and kindness is all around !!! I look at people behind the counter as I check out of the super market... I see a person that is there to make a living doing their job, sometimes they are smiling, sometimes you can see in their eyes they are just there physically but their minds are elsewhere. Who knows... a sick child, a bad relationship, a parent that needs care, a car that has broken down, the list can go on and on.. Daily we meet people that just need a smile and a hello to give them hope!
At church I look around.. open knowledge around the church... (not gossip but what people have used their testimonies) The Worship leader just got engaged.. he is ecstatic, the Worship Director has 2 wonderful Children in the Lords service in California! They are preparing for what God is calling them for all the while they are working for Him and growing closer and closer every day but as she is extremely proud of her children she has a sister that is battling health concerns to a point of being fatal... In the choir there is one who lost a baby girl at birth,She praises God with everything in her Sunday after Sunday knowing the pain that is still within her on a daily basis... there is one that had a husband try to commit suicide, she praises God and shows others how to continue in Loving and being who God wants her to be, never knowing when of if the situation will rise again... in our congregation someone that his 23 year old sister was murdered.. he says its better to know GOD than know the answers, another was a truck driver and a child on a bike rode out in front of him and the child died instantly.. he lives with the torment that this child died because of him... all along Loving the God that keeps him in HIS hands and comforts him... One lady has lost multiple babies.. either by miscarriage or still birth.. she lives daily with empty arms but knows GOD is still in control and it gives her hope. A lady with inoperable cancer still living after the doctors said she would not make it 5 years.. she lives with hope and knows God is the one that ultimately gives the life or death sentence. and she is cancer free but lives with many difficulties ! There is one person that is an abortion survivor and was raised without love... she lives with difficulty trusting others but lives for God and helping others live with HOPE! There are several couples that the man was addicted to porn.. their marriage was on the rocks... God turned them around and their marriage is stronger than ever.. God Reigns!! I could go on.. Daily there are people we meet and see .. we don't know the storys behind their lives .. I ask God to show me what HE sees.. I don't need to know the specifics all I need to do is show God's love .. because everyone has a story.. everyone has hurts because Life hurts at times... we have to learn how to give it continually to God.. lay it at the cross and be in His presence more and more!!! And while doing that .. Love everyone with Gods Love!!! watch YOUR/ MY attitude.... read between the lines.... there's always a reason for someones bad attitude or just somber look ! Whisper a prayer for them and send them a Blessing !

http://www.woosterchurch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=234&Itemid=151

Sharing

Jesus help me believe... is this where we are going wrong... OR is it just her 'time'

A father in the Bible... Mark 9: 21 - 24 ... His son was possessed by a demon... he asked Jesus to help his son his son.. IF you can... .. Jesus said... "If you can.... everything is possible for one who believes" this father says... I believe.. Help my unbelief.... (in my opinion) making sure that if he didn't believe enough God would help him believe to the point that Jesus would help his son...

Jesus heals the centurion's child.. Matthew 8:13 "Let it be done as you believed"

Peters mother n law is sick... Peter asks Jesus to heal her.. and she gets up and makes supper for them.... Matthew 8:14
^{Matthew 16} When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

^{Jesus heals the dead girl .... Mark 5:36 "36} Overhearing^[c] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Mark 11:23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Luke 8:50 "Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Also.. God looks out for the sparrows Matthew 10:29 - 31..." Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^{[b] 30} And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
All through the Bible... if two or more ask it shall be granted....

And Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans for you.. Plans to prosper and not to harm... (not a complete quote) but this is the gist....

After a tragedy like this of little Ella .... I cant help but want to ask why. WHY not just WHY but Grieve and cry for the little precious baby that was so helpless and could not fight back to the one that took her life .. She must have been so afraid and she must have been in so much pain... Ella's brother (3 years old) said ms **** was mad at her because she wouldn't go to sleep and she wouldn't quit crying... just for an instance .. couldn't she have called Ella's mother to come get them.. couldn't she have gone outside... called for help .. why , WHY did she have to take her frustrations out on Ella..??? I just sometimes don't understand .. if we are worth more than the sparrows .. why is it that Ella had to die? why did she have to hurt ... why is she dead!???

I KNOW God has a plan.. I know she WAS here for a purpose.. and I do NOT ~ believe me~ I do not blame God... !!! I know He and HE alone is the only Hope and Future we have ... I hate this sinful world... I know it was because of the Sin and not God... I don't know if it was a moment of frustration that took this little life or she just got caught this time.. how many times did Ella have the wrath of this person that took her life??? This family will always have doubts and why's and what if's and a huge hole in their lives! I pray that the Father will fill their hearts with comfort and hold them close and help their unbelief... I have to say.. I wonder where my life would be without the Father.. but wonder too if that were my child.. where would I go.. Hatred and un-forgiveness would be lurking around every corner...and I would have to fight harder than I've ever fought.... I pray against hatred and un-forgiveness for them !!! I pray they will be able to not hold any of this in... that they will not be broken and hard .. that they will be totally open and dependent on the Heavenly Father for all their needs. I pray that their friends will stay close to them and they will be open enough to lean on them... and Let the Spirit morn with them and utter words to the Father when the pain is too deep for words!
Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. "

^{Proverbs 3:5
5} "Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;"

^{Someday's there are no answers... it is Better to KNOW GOD Than to Know the answers!!!!}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RddBWJgvKDY

(Joseph King of Dreams song.. "You know better than I"

I thought I did what's right
I thought I had the answers
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here
So I put up a fight
And told you how to help me
Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear
Chorus 1:
You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For You know better than I
If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing
I don't know is part of getting through
I tried to do what's best
But faith has made it easy
To see the best thing i can do
Is to put my trust in You.
Chorus 2
For, You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
For You know better than I
Coda:
I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was You who taught that bird to fly
If i let You reach me
Will You teach me.
(Repeat Chorus )
For, You know better than I
You know the way
I've let go the need to know why
I'll take what answers you supply
You know better than I

Mountaintop Experience

SparedbyGod.com

As Christians, we have in common a relationship with Christ. However, a life and death experience is not something everyone has in common. Because of this, some people may have difficulty sharing that experience with others. This is why we are encouraging people to recount their experience, to write it down and to pass it on-especially to your family, your church and your neighbors. Each of us should make this a part of the fabric of who we are.

This is our passion...that we have been spared for a purpose. We were spared not to just live out our lives, but to have opportunities to repair damaged or broken relationships. We were spared not to place emphasis on ourselves, but to be building His Kingdom. We now realize that time is precious and we are to make our time here valuable. What value is it if we are not doing God's work?

Look for the bigger picture. God spared you for the bigger picture. Do not forget what the Lord has done, but always remember to be ready for what God can do through you every day. Every day is a gift and we must treat it that way. Don't be satisfied with what God has done..Be thankful, be appreciative, but most of all be Hungry for more of God. His decision to spare our lives is surely a chance for us to do a greater work for His Kingdom.

Deuteronomy 4:9

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

When we reflect back in 1994 on our Montana vacation visiting my sister and her family, thanking God just doesn't seem to be enough. God spared our lives on a camping trip, where God showed us His bountiful Mercy and Grace. He watched over us in a way we knew He was in total control, sensing his presence all around us. Since then, our lives have been truly blessed seeing our children grow into beautiful adults and wonderful parents. We have watched as they chose amazing spouses and apply God's abounding love in their homes. We have seen our four wonderful grandchildren born and we watch them grow, loving life, loving church and loving God. God has changed our location and He has given us a dynamic church with beautiful Godly people we care about. Daily we see things we praise God for .. and Thank him for sparing our lives. We don't understand why, we may never understand but for years we had nearly forgotten the sense of God actively spreading His hand to allow us to be here to share all these things. Through the Grace of God, the Holy Spirit has opened our eyes to our negligence in praising Him for these years-years that are truly a gift. Our life on earth could have ended on a desolate mountaintop-but we were spared to continue. Our plea now is to rededicate our lives and the time we have been given to serving Him.

In order for people to understand our passion for this outreach, we think it is important to tell the story of how God spared us in 1994 -- what we call our mountain top experience. 

Mountain Top Experience

This was to be a vacation to remember. My husband Karl and I had looked forward to our trip to visit my sister Yvette and her family in Bozeman, Montana since January. After visiting Yellowstone National Park, riding inner tubes on the Madison River, seeing a rodeo on the Fourth of July, swimming in the hot springs it was time for the highlight of our vacation; a horseback adventure ten thousand feet up in the mountains and seeing the wonderful sights.
It was July 5 -- Yvette and her daughter Andrea was up until 2:00 a.m. getting ready for our overnight excursion. Then it was up again at 5:30 am to round up the horses load them in the trailer and haul them to the trail head.

Eight of us, 4 adults and 4 teenagers, were to take this trip with our coats, bedding, food, tents, and other necessities packed on our horses. Yvette rode her horse Chico, Andrea was on Rebel (who was true to his name), Karl was on Sonny (a bossy horse) and I rode Ginger. Their friend Chad was on a borrowed horse. We met Yvette's friend Carol, her daughter Honalee and her nephew Justin at the bottom of the mountain trail. We started out about 9:30am. The morning was beautiful. We knew there was to be a storm later in the day, but we had no reason to worry. We would be in camp in plenty of time.

As we began our trip up the mountain, Carol and her horses took the lead. We were moving so slowly that a group of hikers passed us. It did not matter to us as we were not in any hurry. We let them pass as we took in the sights. The fragrance of the mountains was wonderful and I loved every minute. We continued up the mountain crossing wooden planks over streams that appeared to be 300 feet down. The further we went up, the cooler the temperature became. All of us put on our jackets. We eventually came out of the trees and soon reached Hylite Lake, the spot where we had planned to camp. It was so windy and there was so little grass for the horses to graze that Carol and Yvette decided that we should go further up the mountain to Crater Lake. The horses were restless. Carol's pack horses knew where they were going and were eager to get there.

The next part of the journey was up a steep grade with many switch backs. We would go left, then right, then left again until we finally got to the top. We found snow at the top, right where we had to pass. We dismounted and one at a time lead the horses through the snow. It really did not work well for those of us not used to leading horses! I could see myself trampled by Ginger who was not at all happy with having to go further and did not like the snow one little bit. At the top of the switch-backs and passed the snow, we found a beautiful green meadow where we and the horses took a much needed rest. It was so peaceful and pleasant with a wonderful view.

Our rest over, we mounted up and resumed our slow pace. Carol said her packhorses were getting fidgety because they did not like going so slowly. Yvette said she knew the trail, so Carol, her daughter Honalee and her nephew Justin, took the pack horses and their dog ahead at their pace. We went at our own speed and enjoyed the sights. The mountains and the valleys were a sight to behold. We wanted just to sit and look at the view. The pine trees and the rocks were beautiful, and we felt we could reach out and touch the clouds. We were amazed by the beauty God had bestowed on us. We were so far up, I did not think there could be any more trail to follow, but there was and we did! The trail turned to loose shale. The mountain was straight up and straight down as far as you could see. I wanted to get off the horse, but Yvette said it was safer on the horse than off. The further we went the more anxious I became. I felt that we would never get to our campsite. The view became just a place. We finally left the shale and the trail leveled. We could see the storm coming towards us too fast for comfort. I really had to push Ginger to keep her going. After Carol and the pack horses had left, Karl’s horse Sonny wanted to “move out" and forget the slow pace. Chico, now in the lead, was harassed by Sonny. I was trying to keep Ginger up with the rest while Andrea was trying to keep Rebel from bumping into Ginger's behind. The trail had become very narrow, and was following the crest of a ridge with a 900 foot drop off on either side. Suddenly, Sonny tried to pass Chico.

Karl tried to stop him, but nothing would work.. Sonny lost his footing in loose shale and went sideways straddling the trail, his front legs on one side of the ridge with his back legs on the other side. My view was blocked by a large rock but I heard Yvette shout for Karl to get off the horse. Sonny lunged forward but the loose shale offered no support. Sonny lost his footing and struggled to regain his feet.. He tried to climb up the slope but the shale gave way. He rolled sideways then tried to stand, but his momentum took him close to the edge. He rolled again and was gone. It took us a while to realize what had just happened. All this time I could not see what was going on and was terrified Karl had gone over with the horse. I was frightened. Then I could hear Karl screaming that he had not been able to hold Sonny and I knew Karl was OK. But we were not OK.

The rest of us had gotten off our horses trying to keep Karl or Yvette from going down the steep slope to Sonny. We could see that Sonny had died. There was no reason to go after him and endanger their lives.

After a few minutes of composing ourselves, we realized that the storm front was bearing down on us and we had to move on from the narrow ridge. We soon came to a grassy meadow in the shadow of a huge boulder. At his point, the trail divided- one trail heading up around the boulder and following the ridge while the second trail headed lower on the slope and back into a wooded area. Yvette tried to remember which the trail lead to Crater Lake. With all the confusion she was unsure of herself. I felt weaker and weaker and thought I would faint. Chad noticed movement on the next meadow of the mountain. We realized that it was Carol, Honalee and Justin. They had started to set up our camp about a half of a mile from where we were. Everyone walked from there except me. I was having trouble breathing, and as the minutes went on I was going into shock. With the air so thin and with the trauma I had just been through, I did not think I could make it. I called out for God, for His help and strength. Andrea and I whispered prayers continually. When we finally made it to camp and told Carol what had happened to Sonny, it was just too much. I was so weak I could not help do anything. It dawned on us that my clothes, blankets, binoculars, gun (this is black bear country), ax and most of our cooking utensils were at the bottom of the cliff. We would have to do without them..

It was 7:00 p.m. when a storm went over us. It rained for a while then large hail fell. The wind picked up and the temperature grew colder. We were glad that it was not snow. Everyone was setting up camp getting ready for night. When the rain let up, Karl and Chad made a camp fire and Yvette fixed our supper. I was not at all hungry. I ate because I knew my body would crash if I did not. I was having shock shakes and my body was turning into jelly. I had no control over my body shaking.. I pleaded with God not to let me die up on the mountain. I could not wait until morning, but if I had my way I was not going back over that ridge. I thought that the only way home was the way we came and I did not want to think about going back over the trail of loose shale to the ridge where Karl might have died.. I knew God had spared Karl's life because it had to have been an angel that picked Karl up off the horse safely. It did not ease my mind enough to set aside my fear. I thought no one really knew another way off the mountain. I plead again and again that God would give me strength and help me to believe he would take care of us.

That night it rained harder than ever. The wind was icy cold and piercing. As we gathered in the big tent we sang songs and hymns, hoping to calm ourselves so we could get a good night's rest. The guys slept in the pup tent and we women stayed in the large tent. It was a most unpleasant night. I felt my heart race and my teeth chattered, not from being cold but because of shock. I was awake most of the night with wild thoughts racing in my imagination. The more I tried to rid myself of them the worse they became.

The next morning I did not have the strength to stand. I heard Carol tell Karl and Yvette that she was very worried about me. She decided to leave to get help. She hiked off the mountain the same way we had come. It would take her hours to do so. Carol and Yvette have a friend in their church that was a helicopter pilot. Carol would get in touch with him and see if he could fly up to get me. I worried about her going by herself, but Yvette and Honalee assured me that she was up to it. Snow flurries started early. We thought it was funny that it was snowing on the 6th of July. This day was not what we imagined it would be. While the guys and Yvette worked to keep the fire going, Andrea and Honalee tended to the horses. The flurries turned into a steady snow. Then the snow turned into blizzard complete with white outs. It was not funny anymore. Had Carol made it off the mountain before the snow started? We know that once she got to the first lake travel would be easier but had she made it that far?

We sang and we prayed to pass the time away. The horses were just as uneasy as the rest of us. The horses were miserable in the wind and cold with no protection except for a few trees. Andrea and Honalee would go out and try to comfort them once in a while but it was to cold for the girls to stay out long.

About noon we heard sounds of a helicopter. Karl and Chad ran to a large clearing above the campsite to flag him down but the clouds and snow were too thick for us to see him and for him to see the mountain. Even if he found us, there was no way he could land in that blizzard and wind. After a few passes the noise faded away. Yvette made lunch. We tried to eat to gain strength and energy. I was getting better since we heard the helicopter. I thought that he would be back soon. Hours went by with Karl, Chad and Yvette trying to keep the fire going. The wood was getting scarce and what they found was wet with snow. The day lingered. Andrea, Honalee and Justin were in the pup tent reading a book of funny short stories. We could hear them laughing enjoying the time together. I loved to hear them laugh but at part of me wanted to scream "Don't you see the danger here? What is wrong with everyone? We are going to die here on this mountain and then the bears will eat us!" I know now I was over reacting. At the time I was worried that no one even knew Carol had gone down off the mountain, and I felt that helicopter was just a coincidence. I was starting to shake really hard again all the while saying to myself "Why are you so afraid, oh Ye of little faith?" I was giving myself a tongue lashing, but it did not help. I was still shaken.

Day turned into evening and we were resigned that we would be there another night. Karl, Chad and Justin were cold to the bone. Karl had changed his clothes time and time again trying to stay dry. Now he was out of dry clothes. Karl tried to keep the fire going for us all day. It was about 7:00pm when Yvette went out some distance behind the tents. She looked up and saw a rescue team was coming through the 12 inches of snow, with dusters and back packs!! It was a wonderful sight. God had answered our prayers. Carol’s husband Dan, Yvette’s husband Jay and Jay’s nephew Chad had followed a trail up the back side of the mountain to find us. Only Dan had ever been on that particular trail before, but gone out that way never in. I knew God directed those men right to us. There were so many trails that they could have used but they believed that God would show them how to get to us. They were a blessed sight to us! Jay, Dan and the others were laughing and talking as it was an everyday thing to come on the mountain in 12 inches of snow in July. I knew it was going to be OK now, yet something inside me kept saying if I did not get out of there I was going to die. I kept trying to convince myself we were going to be OK. Jay and Dan took over handling the fire and Karl came in my tent to get warm. We stayed in the tent for some time talking and trying to come to grips with having to stay another night on the mountain.

Outside the tent Jay told Karl and I what they had been through coming up to us. They had walked through drifts above their knees in places and it had taken them hours to find us. The rescue party brought extra sleeping bags, blankets and food but no tent and they were too tired to hike off the mountain. I could barely stand and was not able to walk or ride off the mountain. We would have to stay and try in the morning. Suddenly, he said "Hey Karl- you two have to see this!" We got our coats on and looked outside the tent. What we saw was totally unbelievable!

Although it was nearly dark, we could see bright blue sky. The clouds opened up over our heads. I knew that at that moment, we were standing in God's presence. Amazed at what we saw, we were more amazed when from the valley below we heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter! To all our amazement, the helicopter came right through the broken clouds and landed in the snow near us. The awesome sight of the helicopter was more than what we could handle. I believe we all were so much in awe of the powers of God that we were speechless. I will never forget the sight of the helicopter pilot, and hearing him say we had to hurry since it was getting dark. We were safe! Justin, Andrea, Honalee, Karl and I got on board the helicopter and literally flew off into the sunset. Yvette and Chad stayed behind with Jay and the rest of their friends that rescued us. Later they told us that they were in utter amazement when the helicopter left, for just as it was getting out of sight, the clouds closed in just as they had been most of the day. God had been so good to us!

When we got back to the heliport, the family of the pilot and Jay's sister were there. They had heard of the snow storm and of the problems we had on the mountain. Jay's sister took us back to Yvette's house.
We got showers and went directly to bed. I believe we could have slept for days. We knew that even though Yvette and the rescuers were still up on that mountain, they would to be OK. We knew that God was in control. We were so thankful that God took care of us. We had seen so many miracles on our trip! Once again proved He is definitely an awesome God.

The next morning we got up and waited for the others to get home. We also planned a “Thank You” dinner for the pilot, the rescue team and their families. All of the people were so wonderful. They even had a group of people to meet Yvette and the rescue group as they came off the mountain. They had sandwiches and drinks ready for them. They had thought of everything. I will always call them friends even though I am far away from them.
Yvette and Jay got home, showered then rested a bit. Then they were off and ready to go again making plans for the rest our trip. Most importantly, we kept our plans for our 'Thank You' dinner. The hardest thing we had to do was to notify Mr. & Mrs. King - Sonny’s owners. You see, the Kings had volunteered to let Sonny go on our trip so each of us would have a horse to ride.. We were so sad about the loss of that wonderful horse. The King's are truly Christian people. Debbie wrote Yvette a wonderful note that said that their friendship was worth more than a horse. Yvette and I cried and cried. We had a better understanding of friendship from Debbie's example. Debbie is someone special.

"Our God is an Awesome God, he reigns from Heaven and Earth, with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an Awesome God" I do not know the author but he must have been through a similar situation. Our God is truly an Awesome God! The words of this song says just how good God is!

Psalms 66:8-9

"Praise God O Peoples, let the sounds of his praise be heard: He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping."

Surely I have been Spared by the Hand of God to do a Greater Work for His Kingdom than I have Ever accomplished before!

What's THAT

Ohhhhhhhhhhh the good ole' days... One of these days... My grandkids will be like I was... curious to know... What was that? How did it work? Who used it? Why did you have to use that instead of what we have now? I can see one day.. bringing out the dial up telephone where there was a cord and no matter what you needed in the house was JUST out of reach when you were on the phone. We had a cord from the receiver to the phone and a cord from the phone to the wall.. Needless to say you didn't go anywhere when you had a phone call... you were stuck within a 5 foot radius... UNLESS... you did what we did, we had a 50 foot cord from the wall to the phone and a 15 foot curly cord from the phone to the receiver.. but I wont bother telling my grand kids all that .. they will just get as wound up with the cords as we did trying to reach and move around the house as they try to figure it all out .. Funny how we tried to be as free with that as we are the cell phones now.
My great grandmother talked of her davenport, and housecoat, and pocketbook, with oleo and ice box as if it were an everyday item... Of course I understood it,,, as it was relayed to me .. but to my grand kids.. its a couch and robe, and purse and margarine and refrigerator... And by the time my grandkids grow up they might have other names for them by then... Time does go one and changing the names of things as easy as changing TV stations...

Talking about TV stations... We had 3 channels with rabbit ears ... no remotes and no cable .. What???? seriously no cable .. hahaha... When I was a teen we got a local Tv station .. and got cable ... but remotes were a bit harder to come by... We had ABC, NBC, CBS and black and white TV. AND if by chance you wanted to watch public TV you had to change the whole TV settings to UHF and adjust the rabbit ears until you were blue in the face.. OR you'd have someone go outside to move the antenna outside to see if you can get a better picture... To end every days broadcast every night at 11:00 PM the TV would go off playing the National anthem with a picture of the Waving American Flag!! and then at the end of the song... you'd hear kkkkkkkkkkkksssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhh and nothing on the tv but fuzz..
We got a color TV when I was in grade school .. Our first console tv (a HUGE box around a TV that was mostly used for a piece of furniture that you could put knick-knacks on ) It sat really pretty in the edge of the room where it was all nice and new... Mike had a set of cleats he was going to give to a girl... (Cleats... small objects you screwed on the bottom of football shoes (to make it easier to run in the dirt) ... .that you gave to a grade school girl like a class ring when you get older to let her know she was your girlfriend) I was running around the house with them on a chain.. swirling them in the air around my finger.. he was about to get to me so I slung them faster and faster... and they flew off my finger, right into the TV . Ohhhhhhhhhh I so thought I was dead meat! =| But .. I was told to be more careful and quit running in the house... (mom didn't say.. stop teasing your brother.. =) that was a plus) But for the life of the TV ... it had a crack down the whole length of the picture tube! =} I should have got it really good! I'm so glad I have a mom and dad that are full of Grace!!!

I remember in Jr High my dad brought in this HUGE metal box.... it must have weighed a ton... ok .. maybe 150 pounds ... a NEW state of the art... brand new Radar Range!!! Everyone was talking about the 'Radar Range', it was supposed to make a meal or heat your food in No time flat... It makes me laugh now to remember what we did before the 'radar range' We got this monster and sat it on the counter.. mom was so proud... she tried all kinds of things in it and seeing what all it would do... we came to the conclusion it was good for warming up food. Hundreds of dollars to do what we have always done on the stove. BUT in Record time!!! It states.. cook a 5 pound roast in 35 minutes... Mom got a corning ware dish with a browning circle on the bottom to 'brown the meat as it cooks because everyone know you can 'brown' anything in the microwave. I don't ever remember her making a 'meal' in the radar range .. but I know she must have tried!
Things we don't see every day now that use to be useful .... a dial Telephone (our phone number was 304-562-6481.... but in our town all you had to dial was 2-6481.. which meant .: dial, click, click, dial, click, click, click, click, click, click, dial click, click, click, click, dial, click .. well you get what I mean... each number had that many clicks... seemed to take forever in a world that was quickly becoming a hurry up world and do things fast.. I have somewhere to be... ) more things were manual and electric typewriters, cassette players and tapes, LP or 78s and 45s records, record players, 8 track tapes, VHS and Beta were the 2 most popular ways to watch movies if you didn't go to the theaters, phone booths (where you had to have the exact change to make a phone call started out at 10 cents .. went to 25 cents then 50 cents) and mail boxes on the corners and at gas stations, cameras with 35 mm film... 110 camera's and Polaroid cameras, pagers/ beepers, I remember when beepers were first out there.. dad was setting at his mom and dads house with his brothers... while they were sitting and talking everyone heard a beep and all the 'brothers' looked at their beepers to see who might need them .. of course it was only one that got the beep but all of them looked at their little tiny black box on their belt loop to see if it was Their pager that went off! Everyone belted out in laughter at the new technology and their response to it.

In 1960 a new house cost $12,700.00 and by 1969 was $15,500.00

In 1960 the average income per year was $5,315.00 and by 1969 was $8,540.00

In 1960 a gallon of gas was 25 cents and by 1969 was 35 cents

In 1960 the average cost of new car was $2,600.00 and by 1969 was $3,270.00

Some of my favorite TV shows were...

• Rawhide 1959 - 1966.
• The Monkees 1966 - 1968.
• Ironside 1967 - 1975. .
• Hogan's Heroes 1965 - 1971.
• Lassie 1954 - 1973.
• Flipper 1964 - 1967.
• Bonanza 1959 - 1973.
• The Brady Bunch 1969 - 1974.
• Gilligan's Island 1964 - 1967.
• Gunsmoke 1955 - 1975.
• Columbo 1968 - 2003.
• The Virginian 1962 - 1971.
• Mr Ed 1961 - 1966.
• The Twilight Zone ( Original Series ) 1959 - 1964.
• I Dream of Jeannie 1965 - 1970.
• Bewitched 1964 - 1972.
• Get Smart 1965 - 1970
• Green Acres 1965 - 1971.

My favorite past times were Annie Over where we had 2 people on one side of our detached garage and 2 on the other and we would yell.. Annie Over and throw a ball... no one on the other side of the roof would know where it would be thrown way to the right or way to the left or in the middle ..but the object was to catch it and not let it hit the ground.. no score was taken but it was fun playing it for hours.. We lived in a neighborhood with kids everywhere.. we would leave after school and be home before dark.. Mom always knew where we were but we didn't' have to be in seeing distance.. but we knew when we heard mom say dinner.. we'd come running... then out again to play with our friends. We would play 4 square until we couldn't see the ball.. we'd play chase, freeze tag, cartoon tag, we would ride out bikes all around the neighborhood.. and when it would snow enough the mom down the street that worked for the police dept. would block off our street and everyone for 4 streets over would come to sleigh ride down our street. It was perfect.. the really steep to get started and then a slop at the end to get a safe stop! Nothing was funner than that!!! Mom always had a hot pot of chocolate milk ready for us when we'd need to come in and warm up a bit. We'd play outside all day.. and we didn't get frost bit or frozen.. We had snow forts and tunnels and the imagination was unlimited!!! We had a tree house where the boys were allowed MWF and the girls had it TTS ... one day JB Burdette was going up in it on the Girls day... so I went in the house and got Mikes Be-be gun and shot him right in the butt..... I don't know what got in to me but here again another instance where I should have got in real trouble but didn't.. actually mom laughed... she didn't know I saw her but she did!!! Although she was the one that had to contend with JB's mom!!! Bless my mommys heart.. she took up for me.. I did have to say I was sorry.. But everyone knew I wasn't ! =)

Those were the days! Im sure my grankids will say that for their day too!!! I know they have lots of opportunities in the days and years ahead!

Posted by Kim Ellis at 7:53 AM 0 comments